Known as America's Agatha Christie, leading female crime novelist Mignon Eberhart cowrote this faithful adaptation of her popular novel While the Patient Slept.Known as America's Agatha Christie, leading female crime novelist Mignon Eberhart cowrote this faithful adaptation of her popular novel While the Patient Slept.Known as America's Agatha Christie, leading female crime novelist Mignon Eberhart cowrote this faithful adaptation of her popular novel While the Patient Slept.
Photos
- Evening Bulletin Reporter
- (uncredited)
- Detective Davis aka Johnson
- (uncredited)
- Evening Bulletin Editor
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWarner Bros. created the advertising marketing ploy "Clue Club" to increase audiences attending its crime mystery/drama movies. Twelve titles showing the Warner Bros. "Clue Club" promo footage were released from 1935 to 1938.
Clue Club #1: The White Cockatoo (1935)
Clue Club #2: While the Patient Slept (1935)
Clue Club #3: The Florentine Dagger (1935)
Clue Club #4: The Case of the Curious Bride (1935)
Clue Club #5: The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935)
Clue Club #6: The Murder of Dr. Harrigan (1936)
Clue Club #7: Murder by an Aristocrat (1936)
Clue Club #8: The Case of the Velvet Claws (1936)
Clue Club #9: The Case of the Black Cat (1936)
Clue Club #10: The Case of the Stuttering Bishop (1937)
Clue Club #11: The Patient in Room 18 (1938)
Clue Club #12: Mystery House (1938)
- GoofsO'Leary finds a semi-automatic pistol in Mittie's dresser, then tells Sarah a cartridge is missing from it. It would not be possible for him to know how many cartridges were loaded in the gun to begin with.
- Quotes
Nurse Sarah Keate: Well, this gets more and more like a fairy story - Cinderella's slipper found by her Prince Charming, except you weren't built for the part.
Detective Lt. Lance O'Leary: Well, I may not be a prince - just a detective.
Nurse Sarah Keate: You still overestimate yourself.
- ConnectionsFollowed by The Murder of Dr. Harrigan (1935)
Fast-moving & fun, this is another example of the comedy crime picture that Warner Brothers was so expert at producing. Casts & plots could be shuffled endlessly, with very predictable results. While this assembly line approach created few classics, audience enjoyment could usually be assured.
Intricately plotted, the film boasts excellent production values & a finely sustained spooky atmosphere. Clutching hands, hidden passageways, resentful relatives, suspicious servants & sudden death all make this a prime entry into the Old Dark House genre of suspense films. However, there are enough solid laughs to help lighten the mood.
Aline MacMahon, as a starched no-nonsense nurse, shows once again why she was one of the finest character actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age. Her facial expressions & body movements are perfectly controlled and constantly entertaining to watch. Arch & angular, she has the right riposte for any situation, but she is also warmhearted & fearlessly brave. From her very first scene, Miss MacMahon puts the picture in her pocket & walks off with it.
Chubby Guy Kibbee & loudmouthed Allen Jenkins both add considerably to the entertainment as the cops assigned to the murder case. The suspects consist of a whole gaggle of cousins, including pretty Patricia Ellis, stalwart Lyle Talbot, prissy Hobart Cavanaugh & spiteful Dorothy Tree - as well as mysterious butler Brandon Hurst & the family lawyer, Henry O'Neill.
The MacMahon & Kibbee characters reappear in THE PATIENT IN ROOM 18 (1938) and MYSTERY HOUSE (1938), although portrayed by other performers.
- Ron Oliver
- Nov 25, 2001
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Clue Club #2: While the Patient Slept
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 6 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1